Bhubaneswar, 08 January (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in air pollution levels in the Angul–Talcher industrial region and has sought urgent intervention for a permanent solution. In this regard, he has written separate letters to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy, and Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, drawing attention to the growing public health risks.

In his letters, Shri Pradhan described the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Angul remaining in the ‘severe’ category as a matter of grave concern. He termed Talcher’s inclusion among the most polluted cities in the country as deeply alarming, noting that deteriorating air quality is posing serious health threats, particularly to children, the elderly and people suffering from respiratory ailments.

To address the issue, the Union Minister put forward a series of concrete recommendations. These include strict enforcement of pollution control norms in industrial areas, strengthening real-time air quality monitoring systems, adoption of mechanised coal transportation systems, and implementation of advanced dust suppression technologies. He also proposed large-scale plantation drives to create green buffers around industrial zones and mining corridors, along with expansion of targeted interventions under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Pradhan further pointed out that measures taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are largely temporary in nature. He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts among the State Pollution Control Board, district administration and industrial establishments to arrive at a long-term and sustainable solution.

Highlighting the importance of improving the quality of life of residents in the Angul and Talcher regions, Pradhan called for close cooperation between the Centre and the State to ensure swift and effective action to tackle the pollution crisis.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda